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Is undrafted rookie Beebe really going to make the Vikings?

MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings rookie Chad Beebe couldn't help but smile as his iPhone lit up like a Christmas tree following a 21-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night, Aug. 24, at U.S. Bank Stadium.

He had just caught the game-winning touchdown pass from third-string quarterback Kyle Sloter, and with congratulatory text messages rolling in at a rapid rate, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound slot receiver responded to as many people as possible before a throng of reporters descended upon him.

Truth is, Beebe has become a popular figure in the Twin Cities this preseason, going from an undrafted no-name to a playmaker with a legitimate chance of making the team.

While Thursday's preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans looms, the 24-year-old Beebe might have already done enough to ensure himself a spot on the active roster. At the very least, he helped his cause Friday night with five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

"There's really not much (not) to like," Sloter said. "If the kid was five inches taller, he'd be, in my mind, a first-rounder. He's been a guy that I've looked to to make plays when the time calls for it. He's been a steady rock for me to go to and it just so happens that he happened to be the guy open. He's always open, it seems like."

That has long been a calling card for Beebe as his impeccable route-running skills helped put him on the radar. He has worked his way up the depth chart throughout the preseason and he's made the most of his increased playing time.

"It's just focus," Beebe explained. "I'm not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest. I'll get the job done, though. I'm just doing whatever the coaches are asking me to do."

Asked what he hopes to improve on moving forward, Beebe was critical of himself, saying he needs to eliminate some of the mental mistakes.

"It's about coming in every day and making sure I'm doing the right things whether it's on the field or off the field," Beebe said, downplaying the fact that he might have already done enough to make to the team. "I'm just staying focused on the task at hand and not getting ahead of myself."

As for whether he's surprised himself?

"I've put a lot of work in, so to be honest, I'm not surprised," Beebe said. "I'm just going to continue to do the work and let God take care of the rest."